The nipper programme at Bantham follows the awards programme as defined and governed by Surf Life Saving GB. As a club we encourage every nipper to achieve the Nipper level 3 award as a minimum. This enables them to compete in SLS GB competitions and helps the club adhere to the reccomended safe training ratios on the beach. Exam fees are included in the annual price of nipper membership.

The four awards are defined below.Nipper 1 Award

Aim - To build confidence and enjoy fundamental surf safety and skills within the individuals own depth.

Assessment criteria, demonstrate:• Running into the sea• Going under water as a wave passes• Jumping or charging through waves• Able to relax and float on the back in the sea for 30 seconds• Shout and signal for help• Providing a friend with a flotation device• Identify ‘Return to Shore’, ‘Proceed Further Out to Sea’, ‘Go Left’ and ‘Go Right’ signals• Understand one whistle blast for attract attention• Perform ‘Assistance Required’ signal• Identify recognised areas for safe swimming on beaches• Identify dangerous areas for swimming on beaches• Able to identify a lifeguard• Recognise to only ever enter the water with another competent person, not alone

Bantham Nipper target award age 7 and 8yrs

Nipper 2 AwardAim - To enjoy surf safety and enable development of basic skills in sessions or events within own depth for board paddling and swimming.

Assessment criteria, demonstrate:• Wading and running through waves• Dive over waves• Correct body surfing position• Completion of a wading course• Swimming in flat conditions for 100m• Prone paddling a board, in flat conditions for 150metres• Carrying of a board• Capsize and get back on a board in deep water• Ability to turn left and turn right while prone paddling a board• Identify 2 safety points when using a board• Identify 3 types of waves• Recognise the flagged/safe areas and times to go in the water• Recognise 2 potential dangers of other water users to self• Be able to explain what to do when in trouble in the sea• Know who to call in an emergency

Bantham Nipper target award age 8 and 9yrs

Nipper 3 Award

Aim - To provide competence for participation in out of depth nipper surf sessions and SLSGB nipper events for board paddling and surf swimming.

Assessment criteria, demonstrate:• Ability to tread water for 30 seconds at sea• Complete a 300m swim course• Complete a 400m board course• Able to perform dolphin dives over and under waves• Able to turn the board 360 degrees whilst sitting, without the need for the use of the hands• Able to ride a wave on a board straight to shore• Able to quickly move weight from front to back and back to front of board• Able to get to kneeling position on a board• Able to rest on the board and jump over the board from left to right and right to left in knee depth water• Demonstrate 5 craft specific safety points• Use your board as a flotation support for a friend at sea, until help arrives• Demonstrate signal for ‘Danger’ and ‘All clear’ (from a board)• Identify 3 types of rip currents• Able to explain what to do if you see someone else in trouble in the sea• Know how to keep position in the sea and align with fixed objects on the beach

Bantham Nipper target award age 9 and 10yrs

Nipper 4 Award

Aim - To provide a safe and competent nipper that can safely and enjoyably progress their competencies into a more advanced surf life saver when progressing from nippers for both board paddling and surf swimming.

Assessment Criteria, demonstrate:• Complete a 500m board, 100m run and 300m swim course in succession in the sea• When surf swimming: wade, dolphin dive, tread water at sea for 3 minutes and body surf back• With use of a board: bunny hop, prone paddle and knee paddle on a board, sit and turn the board left and right360 degrees without need to use the arms, lie and pop through waves, ride waves left and right along a wave and carry the board independently• Able to move weight from front to back and back to front of board when on a wave• Communicate ‘Assistance Required’, ‘Go Left’, ‘Go Right’, ‘Return to Shore’ using recognised signal flags• Ability to paddle a board to shore from beyond the break, with another friend on the front.• Know what to do with weaver stings• Identify the dangers of Rips, Waves, Rocks, Cliffs, Sand, Wind, Tides, Sun and Cold